THE 


Touch  of  Christ 

A TALE  OF  MISSIONS 


BY  REV  C.  F.  REID,  D.D. 


Board  of  Missions  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South 
Nashville,  Tenn. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/touchofchristOOreid 


ANNUAL  MEETING  OF  KOREA  MISSION,  1898. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  llurdie  and  ohildren,  Bishop  Wilson,  Rev,  nnd  Mrs.  C.  T.  Collyer  and  son,  Per.  and  Mrs.  C.  F.  Reid  and  family.  Mrs. 

Vun  is  standing  Just  behind  Mrs*  Retd. 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


A Tale  of  Missions 


SAD  message  borne  across  the  Pacific 
announcing  the  death  of  the  wife  of  the 
Hon.  T.  H.  Yun,  Vice  Minister  of  For- 
eign Affairs  for  the  Empire  of  Korea, 
calls  vividly  to  mind  one  of  the  most  remarkable  ex- 
amples of  what  the  touch  of  Jesus  Christ  may  mean 
to  an  Oriental  woman  that  has  fallen  under  the  ob- 
servation of  the  writer  during  a missionary  experi- 
ence of  twenty-six  years. 

Truth  is  still  stranger  than  fiction,  and  it  would 
be  difficult  to  find  in  the  pages  of  our  most  thrilling 
novels  a picture  of  life  so  replete  with  love,  romance, 
adventure,  and  splendid  achievement  as  is  furnished 
by  the  unvarnished  history  of  Mrs.  Yun  and  her  no- 
ble husband. 

The  story  of  these  lives  also  reveals  that  in  the 
h.arts  of  a simple  Chinese  maid  and  a Korean  lad 
exist  all  the  possibilities  of  love  and  happiness,  suffer- 
ing, sacrifice,  and  consecration  that  can  be  found  un- 
der the  highest  conditions  of  civilization  and  Chris- 
tian culture.  Indeed  it  would  seem  to  be  an  open 
question  if  there  be  not  an  even  keener  susceptibility 
of  the  emotional  nature  and  a larger  capacity  for 

(3) 


4 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


utter  self-sacrifice  among  the.  Orientals  than  is  com- 
monly found  in  the  more  calculating  Occidental* 

In  the  very  early  days  of  our  mission  work  in 
China,  when  there  were  large  unoccupied  spaces 
where  now  stands  the  great  city  of  Shanghai,  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Lambuth,  while  returning  from  a visit  to  a 
friend  was  attracted  by  the  moaning  cry  of  a child 
which  seemed  to  proceed  from  a grave  mound  she  was 
passing.  Upon  approaching  she  found  that  the  sound 
came  from  a little  Chinese  girl  that  had  evidently 
been  abandoned  by  its  heathen  parents  and  left  in 
the  long  grass  to  perish,  an  event  that,  from  its  con- 
dition, seemed  very  near  at  hand. 

But  that  moan  had  reached  a heart  that  was  never 
known  to  close  against  such  an  appeal.  What  mat- 
tered it  that  the  little  half-clad  form  was  burning 
with  fever  and  the  features  swollen  and  distorted  with 
the  worst  type  of  confluent  smallpox?  The  mother 
instinct  was  large  enough  for  all  that,  and  with  hot 
indignation  against  the  cruelty  of  its  natural  protect- 
ors, she  clasped  the  little  sufferer  to  her  bosom  and 
hurried  home. 

Days  of  gentle  ministry  and  nights  of  vigil  were 
rewarded,  and  in  a few  weeks  the  little  Mei-Long 
was  able  to  smile  back  her  gratitude  into  the  eyes  of 
her  benefactress.  Convalescence  was  followed  by  ro- 
bust health,  and  Mei-Long  became  a happy  inmate  of 
the  Lambuth  home,  and  a jolly  playmate  of  the  Lam- 
buth baby  boy,  Walter. 

More  fortunate  in  her  abandonment  than  in  her 
birth,  she  passed  the  years  of  child  life  and  school  life, 
and  in  her  early  womanhood  was  married  to  a young 


Clopton  School  in  the  early  days,  when  Mci-Lonjj  was  ! 

buth’s  care  and  instruction. 


(5) 


6 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


Christian,  trained  in  the  London  Mission,  by  the 
name  of  Mo.  In  spite  of  the  telltale  marks  so  thick 
that  a pin  could  scarcely  be  put  down  on  an  unscarred 
portion  of  her  face,  Mei-Long  grew  into  a very  win- 
some girl,  and  is  to-day  a cornel}-  woman,  and  in  the 
capacity  of  nurse  and  Bible  woman  at  the  Woman’s 
Hospital  at  Soochow,  paying  back  to  the  Mission  and 
China’s  suffering  womanhood  the  kindness  she  re- 
ceived in  early  life. 

Several  children  blessed  the  happy  married  life  of 
Mei-Long  and  her  husband,  one  of  whom  was  Sieu- 
Tsung  (Mrs.  T.  H.  Yun),  whose  recent  death  is  re- 
sponsible for  this  narrative. 

It  was  but  natural  that  Mrs.  Mo  should  seek  for 
her  daughter  the  advantages  of  the  school  that  had 
done  so  much  for  her,  but  the  scanty  income  of  her 
home  made  it  necessary  to  appeal  to  her  kind  foster 
mother.  The  facts  became  known  to  the  Sunday 
school  at  Marshall,  Mo.,  probably  through  the  great- 
hearted Palmore,  who,  if  memory  serves,  was  pastor 
of  our  Church  in  Marshall  at  that  time  (1879),  and 
the  Sunday  school  undertook  the  support  of  Sieu- 
Tsung  and  continued  the  good  work  until  her  mar- 
riage with  Mr.  Yun,  some  fourteen  years  later. 

For  nearly  ten  years  Sieu-Tsung  was  under  the 
pastoral  oversight  of  the  writer,  and  it  was  a pleasure 
to  watch  the  development  of  as  fine  a Christian  char- 
acter as  carT  be  found  anywhere.  Born  of  Christian 
parents  and  reared  in  Clopton  School,  she  was,  of 
course,  not  subjected  to  the  cruel  torture  of  foot-bind- 
ing, and  hence  to  the  beauty  of  her  winsome  face 
was  added  the  grace  of  a perfect,  untrammeled  phys- 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


7 


ical  life.  The  innate  modesty  common  to  Chinese 
women,  and  especially  observable  in  her,  lent  a charm 
to  her  manner  and  bearing  that  produced  a most 
pleasing  general  effect. 


While  Sieu-Tsung  was  passing  through  the  earlie 
years  of  a happy  school  life,  stirring  events  were 
transpiring  in  the  neighboring  kingdom  of  Korea. 
An  American  naval  officer  had  broken  through  the 
wall  of  exclusion  which  had  kept  this  part  of  Eastern 
Asia  secluded  from  the  rest  of  the  world  for  cen- 
turies and  had  made  a treaty  with  the  king,  per- 
mitting Americans  to  reside  among  and  trade  with 
the  people  of  Korea,  and  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment had  sent  out  Commodore  Foote  to  be  its  first 
representative  to  reside  in  the  capital  city  of  Seoul. 
The  coming  of  the  men  of  the  West  in  their  great 
ships  had  aroused  the  curiosity  of  the  more  intelligent 
of  the  people. 

This  desire  to  know  more  of  the  outside  was  spe- 
cially noticeable  among  the  young  nobility  residing 
in  Seoul.  They  became  very  friendly  with  Commo- 
dore Foote,  gave  themselves  ardently  to  the  study 
of  English,  and  finally  organized,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Prince  Min  Yong-Ik,  to  promote  intercourse 
with  foreign  nations.  One  of  the  first  steps  taken 
was  to  petition  the  king  to  establish  a postal  service, 
and  though  the  older  and  conservative  nobles  were 
all  opposed  to  the  movement,  the  powerful  influence 
of  the  queen  carried  the  day  in  its  favor.  The  night 
1* 


8 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


before  the  edict  was  to  be  announced  Prince  Min’s 
party  was  assembled  in  a banquet  ball  to  celebrate 
by  feasting  the  victory  they  had  won. 

Little  did  they  suspect  the  ruin  that  bung  over  them. 
Seoul  was  at  that  time  a great  heathen  capital,  and 
a perfect  hotbed  of  intrigue,  plot,  and  counterplot. 
The  enmity  of  the  Conservative  party  had  been  fully 
aroused,  and  so  jt  happened  that  while  the  bowl  was 
circling  freely  and  joy  was  at  its  highest,  a band  of 
hired  assassins  burst  in,  and  there  began  a scene  of 
bloody  slaughter.  This  affair  is  known  in  history  as 
the  Postal  Emute  of  1884. 

It  is  not  germane  with  this  narrative  to  dwell  upon 
the  deep  and  widespread  influence  of  that  night’s 
work.  It  is  enough  for  our  purpose  to  state  that 
one  of  the  young  noblemen  assembled  at  the  banquet 
escaped  unhurt  and  fled  to  the  American  legation. 
His  name  was  Yun  Tchi-Ho,  the  present  Vice  Min- 
ister of  Foreign  Affairs  for  Korea,  and  probably  the 
most  influential  official  in  the  empire,  but  who  is  bet- 
ter known  at  Vanderbilt,  Emory  College,  and  among 
a host  of  American  friends  as  T.  H.  Yun. 

Young  Yun  had  been  rather  a favorite  with  the 
American  Minister,  and  so  when  he  came  to  the  lega- 
tion seeking  protection  the  Commodore  kindly  and 
secretly  had  him  conveyed  to  Chemulpo,  the  seaport, 
and  on  board  an  American  man-of-war  bound  for 
Shanghai,  China. 

In  due  time  the  young  man  arrived  at  his  destina- 
tion. Owing  to  his  rapid  flight,  he  was  in  rather  a 
dilapidated  condition,  but  his  friends  had  put  a little 
bag  of  gold  dust  in  his  hand  as  he  was  making  his 


YUN  TCHI-HO. 


(9) 


IO 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


escape,  so  that  he  was  soon  able  to  repair  damages. 
He  at  once  entered  our  Anglo-Chinese  College  at 
Shanghai,  where  he  remained  an  indefatigable  stu- 
dent for  six  years,  and  where  he  was  happily  con- 
verted to  Christianity.  In  1890  he  came  to  America 
and  continued  his  studies  at  Vanderbilt  and  Emory 
College. 

His  transparent  nature,  brilliant  wit,  and  fund  of 
hearty  good  fellowship  won  hosts  of  friends  for  him 
wherever  he  went,  and  his  wonderful  power  of  adapt- 
ability enabled  him  to  fit  into  whatsoever  condition 
he  found.  He  was  born  to  be  a leader  of  men. 
The  writer  has  seen  immense  throngs  of  his  own 
countrymen  hang  with  eager  interest  on  his  words, 
and  ready  to  follow  him  with  implicit  obedience  to 
any  issue  he  might  choose  to  lead  them. 

If  memory  serves,  it  was  in  1892  that  Mr.  Yun 
returned  to  Shanghai  to  take  his  place  as  a teacher 
in  the  Anglo-Chinese  College.  The  writer  was  at 
that  time  pastor  of  Central  Church  and  Trinity, 
Trinity  being  practically  the  chapel  for  Clopton 
School. 

Sieu-Tsung  had  grown  into  a beautiful,  accom- 
plished woman,  and  was  our  organist.  Mr.  Yun  wor- 
shiped at  the  college  on  the  other  side  of  the  city 
until  one  day  he  happened  to  be  at  Trinity  as  a 
member  of  the  Quarterly  Conference,  and  a kind 
fortune  brought  the  loveliness  of  Sieu-Tsung  within 
the  range  of  his  vision.  After  that  we  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  Mr.  Yun’s  presence  quite  frequently.  In  fact, 
it  was  remarkable  to  note  with  what  ease  an  excuse 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


II 


was  found  for  bringing  him  across  the  city,  a distance 
of  about  three  miles. 

The  custom  of  China  is  not  favorable  to  courtship, 
but  in  the  Orient,  as  in  the  Occident,  true  love  laughs 
at  locks.  The  impossible  happened — a meeting  was 
arranged  with  happy  results,  and  in  course  of  time 
it  was  announced  that  China  and  Korea  were  about 
to  be  joined  in  an  alliance,  offensive  and  defensive. 

The  wedding  was  unique  in  that  it  called  for  con- 
siderable concessions  from  both  Oriental  and  Occi- 
dental customs.  The  old  schoolmates  of  Sieu-Tsung 
and  the  lady  guests  were  strictly  confined  to  the  din- 
ing room,  and  Mr.  Yun  and  the  gentlemen  guests  were 
confined  to  the  parlor.  The  happy  couple  stood  in 
the  sliding  doorway  separating  the  two  rooms,  each 
on  the  side  representing  the  sex  to  which  they  be- 
longed. No  sooner  had  the  preacher  pronounced  the 
words,  “Whom  God  hath  joined  let  no  man  put 
asunder,”  than  the  sliding  doors  were  promptly  closed, 
and  the  high  contracting  parties  were  as  surely  di- 
vided as  could  be  done  by  a pair  of  heavy  doors. 
Was  it  ominous  of  the  many  and  long  separations  that 
in  after  years  threw  a painful  shadow  across  these 
lives  that  seemed  to  have  been  made  for  each  other? 
The  world  loves  a lover,  and  surely  the  friends  of 
this  happy  couple  rejoiced  in  a union  that  seemed 
in  every  way  so  fitting  and  so  promising. 

The  honeymoon  was  scarce  begun  when  from  over 
the  sea  there  came  a message  to  Mr.  Yun  informing- 
him  that  he  was  wanted  at  the  court  of  Korea.  He 
answered  the  summons,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
we  learned  that  he  had  been  appointed  Vice  Min- 


1 2 THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 

ister  of  Education,  and  intrusted  with  the  task  of 
organizing  an  educational  system  for  the  kingdom. 

We  also  heard  good  things  of  Sieu-Tsung.  She 
had  become  a happy  mother,  was  a favorite  with  the 
queen,  and  a frequent  guest  at  the  palace.  We  heard 
also  with  gladness  that  with  all  their  honors  she  and 
her  noble  husband  were  standing  true  to  Christ  and 
all  that  makes  for  righteousness.  We  heard  of  their 
eager  interest  in  Christian  work  and  their  hearty  co- 
operation with  the  missionaries — teaching,  preaching, 
and,  above  all.  living  beautiful,  simple  Christian  lives 
before  a wicked,  profligate  court — and  we  rejoiced  that 
God  had  raised  up  a man  in  Korea  to  stand  like 
Joseph  in  the  court  of  Pharaoh,  a witness  of  the 
power  of  God  to  transform  a human  heart  and  sanc- 
tify it  to  the  higher  uses  of  life. 

Then  there  came  a letter  from  Mr.  Yun  pleading 
that  'ur  own  Southern  Methodism  might  have  a part 
in  the  work  of  regenerating  that  long-suffering  people. 
In  the  good  providence  of  God,  it  was  so  arranged, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1895  Bishop  Hendrix  and  the  writer 
sailed  from  Shanghai  to  investigate  the  need  and  op- 
portunity, and,  if  finding  indications  favorable,  to 
open  work.  Mr.  Yun  met  us  at  Seoul  with  a glad 
welcome,  and  in  every  possible  way  facilitated  our 
work.  Every  opportunity  was  given  us  to  study  the 
situation.  Audience  with  the  king,  interviews  with 
domestic  and  foreign  officials,  and  the  cordial  co- 
operation of  the  missionaries  were  secured  or  facil- 
itated through  the  influence  and  prestige  of  our 
■‘friend  at  court,”  and  we  were  enabled  to  begin  our 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


13 


work  in  Korea  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances. 

The  part  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yun  had  in  the  opening  and 
growth  of  our  Korean  mission  was  so  important  that 
it  is  difficult  to  resist  the  temptation  to  record  in  de- 
tail the  story  of  our  trials  and  triumphs.  We  must 
not,  however,  be  drawn  away  from  the  purpose  of 
this  narrative,  and  shall  make  only  such  allusion  to 
the  general  work  as  seems  to  reveal  the  character  and 
lives  of  our  friends. 

In  1895  troublous  times  were  brewing  for  them. 
The  Chino- Japanese  war  had  terminated  with  the 
nominal  independence  of  Korea  as  one  of  its  impor- 
tant results.  The  government,  however,  was  very 
weak.  The  diplomatic  agents  of  Japan  and  Russia 
were  very  active  at  court,  each  eager  to  gain  a dom- 
inating influence.  Internal  disorders  added  to  the 
difficult}’  of  the  situation.  Brigandage  and  plunder 
were  rife  throughout  the  land.  No  one  was  safe,  and 
everything  was  so  unsettled  that  what  the  morrow 
would  bring  forth  was  beyond  the  skill  of  the  keen- 
est observer  to  predict  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 

The  good  queen  was  by  far  the  ablest  diplomat  at 
court,  and,  while  living,  was  the  acknowledged  lead- 
er of  the  small  party  of  true  patriots  who  were  for 
neither  Japan  nor  Russia,  but  stood  for  the  integrity 
and  full  independence  of  Korea.  By  her  masterful 
skill  and  tact  she  was  able  to  ferret  out  and  baffle 
all  the  plots  of  her  enemies,  and  to  maintain  the  dig- 
nity and  supremacy  of  the  government. 

But,  alas!  In  the  early  part  of  October,  1895,  s^e 
was  foully  murdered  in  her  own  private  apartments. 


14  THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 

The  devoted  band  of  patriots  were  without  a leader, 
and  for  the  time  being  Korea  fell  into  the  hands  of 
her  enemies.  The  regicides  usurped  control  of  the 
government,  and  held  the  king  practically  a pris- 
oner in  his  own  palace.  'At  this  time  the  position  of 
Mr.  Yun  became  very  precarious,  and  it  was  rendered 
much  more  so  in  November  by  an  abortive  attempt 
made  by  his  father  to  overthrow  the  conspirators  and 
restore  the  king  to  his  authority.  His  extreme  popu- 
larity with  the  representatives  of  foreign  powers  re- 
siding in  Seoul,  and  of  whom  the  usurpers  stood  just- 
ly in  awe,  was  a great  protection.  He  was,  however, 
in  the  way,  and  so  when  the  government  arranged  to 
send  an  embassy  to  the  coronation  of  the  Czar  of 
Russia,  he  was  appointed  first  secretary  of  the  em- 
bassy, and  thus  his  influence  was  for  the  time  re- 
moved from  the  afifairs  of  the  court.  Then  began  a 
season  of  separation,  anxiety,  and  sorrow  for  Mrs. 
Yun  that  dragged  through  many  a weary  month,  and 
from  the  effects  of  which  she  probably  never  fully 
recovered.  It  was  not  thought  wise  or  safe  to  leave 
her  in  Korea  during  her  husband’s  protracted  absence, 
and  so  she  and  her  children  were  sent  to  Shanghai, 
where  among  her  old  friends  she  might  find  the  com- 
fort and  protection  she  could  not  hope  to  have  in 
Korea.  She  well  knew  the  conditions  about  her  hus- 
band were  exceedingly  dangerous,  and,  though  in  the 
midst  of  those  who  loved  her,  there  came  a sadness  on 
her  life  and  a wistful  look  in  her  beautiful  eyes  that 
made  her  friends  feel  very  tender  toward  her. 

The  mission  was  truly  a very  unfortunate  one  for 
Mr.  Yun.  The  pro-Russian  tendencies  and  conces- 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


15 


sions  of  his  chief  were  so  offensive  to  Mr.  Yun  that 
in  Moscow  the  relation  became  so  strained  as  to 
be  unendurable,  and  he  abandoned  the  embassy  and 
returned  to  Paris.  The  results  of  this  act  were  far- 
reaching.  To  abandon  a mission  upon  which  he  had 
been  sent  by  his  king  was  to  commit  a political  offense 
for  which  he  might  be  called  to  answer  with  his  life. 

It  was  necessary  for  him  to  remain  in  Paris  until 
some  assurance  could  be  obtained  that  the  way  was 
open  for  him  to  return  home.  Fortunately  affairs  had 
not  been  at  a standstill  in  his  native  land.  In  the 
spring  of  1896  the  king  had  escaped  from  his  perse- 
cutors, and  fled  to  the  Russian  Legation.  He  imme- 
diately organized  a new  cabinet,  and  the  regicide 
cabinet  was  destroyed  or  scattered.  Mr.  Yun's  fa- 
ther was  recalled  from  China  and  appointed  the  leader 
of  an  important  department,  and  influences  were  em- 
ployed that  made  it  possible  for  Mr.  Yun  to  return. 
He  came  quietly  and  alone,  for  it  was  still  considered 
unsafe  for  his  family,  and,  for  that  matter,  a change 
in  the  cabinet  was  likely  to  occur  at  any  time  that 
would  place  him  in  great  peril.  He  came  to  our 
mission  home,  interested  himself  in  our  mission  work, 
acted  as  our  interpreter,  and  finally  filled  our  pulpit 
every  Sunday  morning,  and  in  many  ways  lent  his 
quiet  but  powerful  influence  to  the  extension  and  up- 
building of  our  work.  But  the  fire  of  true  patriotism 
and  the  spirit  of  a leader  burned  within  him.  The 
corruption  of  a self-seeking  court  and  the  oppression 
of  the  people  chafed  and  angered  him.  It  was  not 
possible  for  him  to  remain  long  in  Korea  and  with- 


16  THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 

hold  his  hand  from  the  efforts  that  were  being  made 
to  bring  about  a better  state  of  things. 

A young  Korean  nobleman,  who  had  fled  to  Amer- 
ica and  there  received  a liberal  education,  and  had 
been  admitted  to  American  citizenship  under  the 
name  of  Dr.  Phillip  Jaison,  had  returned  to  Korea 
with  an  American  bride,  under  contract  with  the  gov- 
ernment to  act  as  adviser  to  the  king.  In  pursuing 
his  plan  to  educate  the  people  and  reform  the  govern- 
ment, Dr.  Jaison  had  established  a triweekly  news- 
paper which  he  named  The  Independent.  He  had 
also  organized  the  young  noblemen  and  students  in 
Seoul  under  the  name  of  “The  Independence  Club.” 

Of  course  Mr.  Yun  at  once  became  a prominent 
member  of  this  club,  and  before  long  a regular  con- 
tributor to  The  Independent,  under  the  nom  deplume 
of  “Arriso”  (one  who  knows).  His  articles  chiefly 
dealt  with  his  experience  in  Russia  and  en  route 
to  and  from,  and  attracted  wide  attention.  The  paper 
and  club  rapidly  acquired  influence,  and  soon  became 
a powerful  factor  in  the  affairs  of  the  government. 
Corruption  and  official  crimes  of  all  kinds  were  fear- 
lessly exposed,  and  the  perpetrators  held  up  to  the 
scorn  of  the  people.  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  a 
crusade  of  this  kind  could  long  be  carried  on  without 
arousing  bitter  enmity. 

The  old  Conservative  officials  who  had  grown  fat 
on  plunder  and  the  men  who  were  secretly  aiding  and 
abetting  the  designs  of  diplomatic  agents  could  ill 
brook  to  have  their  deeds  dragged  into  public  view, 
and  they  put  their  heads  and  hands  together  to  abate 
and  finallv  to  destrov  the  new  forces  that  were  so 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


*7 


persistently  arraigned  against  them.  Little  by  little 
Dr.  Jaison  found  his  efficiency  curtailed  in  his  official 
relation,  until  at  last  his  office  of  adviser  to  the  king 
became  a mere  name.  He  was  then  made  to  under- 
stand that  his  presence  in  the  country  would  no  longer 
be  tolerated.  The  full  price  of  his  contract  was 
handed  him,  his  home  handsomely  paid  for,  and  he 
returned  to  America. 

Mr.  Yun  immediately  stepped  into  his  place  as  ed- 
itor of  The  Independent  and  leader  of  the  Independ- 
ence Club,  and  if  anything  the  war  on  official  cor- 
ruption and  oppression  was  waged  with  even  more 
vigor  than  it  had  been  under  the  leadership  of  Dr. 
Jaison. 

In  the  meantime  Sieu-Tsung  had  rejoined  her  hus- 
band and  they  had  built  for  themselves  a sweet  home 
just  outside  the  great  city  wall.  These  were  happy 
days  for  Sieu-Tsung.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
were  exceedingly  popular  at  the  American  and  Brit- 
ish Legations,  and  their  presence  was  eagerly  sought 
at  all  the  legation  functions  and  popular  gatherings 
of  foreigners.  To  one  who  had  known  her  from  a 
child  it  was  a real  pleasure  to  watch  the  simple  grace 
and  dignity  with  which  she  bore  herself. 

The  writer  remembers  being  at  one  of  the  legation 
functions,  quietly  noting  the  ease  with  which  Sieu- 
Tsung  was  conducting  a conversation  with  a member 
of  the  diplomatic  body  when  the  wife  of  the  Amer- 
ican Minister  turned  to  him  and  said:  “Isn’t  Mrs. 
Yun  charming  to-night?  She  certainly  is  the  peer 
of  any  lady  in  this  city  of  Seoul.”  It  was  no  less 
pleasing  to  observe  her  when  she  had  laid  aside  her 


i8 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRiS'i. 


silken  robes  and  in  simple  dress  and  with  sweet  ear- 
nestness talked  to  her  Sunday  school  class  or  in  the 
homes  of  the  lowly  Koreans  about  the  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther and  the  love  of  Christ.  No  honor  conferred  upon 
her,  no  change  of  station  or  fortune  ever  caused  her 
to  waver  in  her  allegiance  to  her  Lord  or  made  her 
lose  the  unconscious  simplicity  and  grace  of  her  man- 
ner. 

Events  were  to  transpire  that  would  prove  that  her 
character  was  not  wanting  in  the  sterner  elements  of 
a strong  life.  Around  Air.  Yun  storms  were  gath- 
ering soon  to  burst  in  sudden  fury  and  destroy  the 
short-lived  happiness  of  the  new  home.  A deep-laid 
plot  was  formed  involving  him  and  nineteen  other 
prominent  men  of  the  Independence  Club.  Old  po- 
litical crimes  were  to  be  brought  against  them ; they 
were  to  be  arrested,  and  after  a hurried  form  of  offi- 
cial examination  they  were  to  be  as  hurriedly  exe- 
cuted. So  well  was  the  plot  laid  and  so  carefully  the 
secret  guarded  that  not  until  late  in  the  night  did  a 
friend  learn  from  a member  of  one  of  the  guards  that 
the  arrests  were  to  be  made  at  daybreak.  This  friend 
was  in  the  city,  and  when  he  tried  to  obtain  egress 
found  all  the  gates  closely  guarded.  So  much  time 
was  consumed  in  finding  a place  where  he  could 
clamber  over  the  wall  that  he  only  reached  Mr.  Yun’s 
outer  gate  just  as  the  arresting  party  came  up.  He 
was  immediately  seized,  but  managed  to  make  such 
an  outcry  that  Sieu-Tsung  was  awakened.  She  at 
once  aroused  hei  husband,  who  began  dressing.  By 
this  time  the  soldiers  had  effected  an  entrance  into 
the  compound,  and  were  demanding  admittance  into 


Residence  ol  Rev.  C.  F.  Reid,  in  which  Mr.  Yun  took  refuge. 


(19) 


20 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


the  house.  Sieu-Tsung  went  to  the  door  and  held 
them  in  parlance  until  her  husband  had  completed 
dressing  and  effected  an  escape  over  the  rear  wall  of 
the  compound. 

It  was  characteristic  of  Mr.  Yun  that,  instead  of 
flying  to  Chemulpo,  where  he  could  easily  have  es- 
caped on  board  ship,  he  went  to  a chair  stand,  hired 
a woman's  closed  chair,  and  had  himself  carried  right 
through  the  guards  stationed  at  the  gates  into  the 
city. 

The  writer  was  early  informed  of  what  had  trans- 
pired, and  started  out  to  see  what  could  be  done,  and 
in  a short  time  Mr.  Yun  was  found  at  the  house  of  a 
friend,  quite  calm  but  decidedly  alive  to  the  extreme 
danger  of  the  situation.  He  was  advised  to  repair 
at  once  to  our  mission  compound,  which  he  did,  and 
was  shown  into  a small  inside  room  opening  off  the 
study.  Again  the  writer  started  out  to  consult  with 
one  in  high  authority  as  to  what  further  steps  could  be 
taken  for  his  protection.  The  reply  was : “Keep  Mr. 
Yun  where  he  is.  The  soldiers  will  not  find  his  hiding 
place  for  several  days,  and  no  one  can  tell  what  will 
happen  during  the  next  forty-eight  hours  in  Korea." 

On  our  return  we  found  Mr.  Yun  seated  at  a ta- 
ble, his  pen  flying  over  the  paper  in  preparation  of 
his  editorial  for  the  issue  of  The  Independent  of  the 
next  morning.  The  office,  being  American  property, 
on  American-owned  ground,  was  safe  from  intrusion. 
Sure  enough,  the  paper  came  out  the  following  morn- 
ing on  time,  and  spicy  as  usual. 

Mr.  Yun  had  changed  his  nom  de  plume  from  ‘Ar- 
riso”  (I  know)  to  “Molio”  (I  don't  know),  and  the 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


21 


editorial  began  with  the  sentence : "Where  is  the  ed- 
itor of  The  Independent ?”  “Molio.”  The  second 
sentence  ran,  “Where  is  there  an  honest  official  in  all 
Korea?”  and  was  signed  again,  “Molio.”  And  then 
followed  a scathing  arraignment  of  the  men  who  were 
suspected  of  being  the  chief  movers  of  the  plot  the 
like  of  which  for  keenness  of  wit  and  biting  sarcasm 
has  rarely  been  seen  in  print. 

The  unexpected,  referred  to  by  the  one  high  in 
authority  who  had  been  consulted  in  the  matter  of 
Mr.  Yun’s  safety,  actually  did  occur.  The  other  nine- 
teen victims  of  the  plot  were  all  arrested  and  thrown 
into  prison,  but  no  sooner  did  the  news  of  the  arrests 
spread  abroad  than  the  male  portion  of  the  city  poured 
into  the  streets  and  a scene  of  wild  disorder  prevailed 
that  baffled  all  the  efforts  of  the  police  to  quell.  The 
crowd  surged  through  the  narrow  streets,  surrounded 
and  soon  demolished  the  residence  of  the  Commission- 
er of  Police.  They  further  avowed  that,  unless  the 
nineteen  men  were  released,  they  would  raze  the 
house  of  every  man  concerned  in  the  plot,  and  would 
not  leave  one  stone  of  the  great  prison  on  another. 
A parley  was  had  between  the  authorities  and  popu- 
lace which  finally  resulted  in  the  triumph  of  the 
mob  and  the  release  of  the  men. 

Of  course  Sieu-Tsung  had  been  one  of  the  first 
objects  of  our  solicitude.  She  was  visited  and  en- 
treated to  come  to  a place  of  safety.  This  she  quietly 
but  firmly  refused  to  do.  She  said : “Were  I to 
leave  the  house,  it  would  be  plundered  and  destroyed. 
T shall  hold  our  home  for  my  husband.”  And  she 
did.  Prowlers  came  singly  and  in  companies,  but  her 


22 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


dauntless  courage  and  calm  dignity  were  equal  to  ev- 
er}- occasion,  and  she  held  her  post  until  conditions 
prevailed  that  made  it  safe  to  close  the  house  and 
move  her  and  the  children  to  the  residence  of  the 
elder  Yun  inside  the  city. 

To  recount  in  detail  the  thrilling  events  of  that 
awful  winter  would  require  a volume;  and,  indeed,  it 
would  be  impossible  to  describe  the  conditions  of  an- 
archy and  riot  that  for  four  mortal  months  held  the 
city  in  an  agony  of  suspense  and  expectation.  Trag- 
edies and  rumors  of  tragedies  were  flying  thick  and 
fast,  and  no  one  knew  what  moment  would  inaugu- 
rate a veritable  reign  of  terror.  The  crowds  on  the 
streets  persistently  refused  to  disperse,  and  if  they 
singly  returned  to  their  homes  at  night  they  were 
present  again  in  the  morning.  Business  was  prac- 
tically at  a standstill,  but  merchants  and  wealthy  sym- 
pathizers contributed  large  sums  to  feed  the  popu- 
lace, and  strings  of  country  friends  brought  loads  of 
fuel  and  provisions  daily  and  dumped  them  on  the 
streets.  The  large,  open  spaces  in  front  of  the  pal- 
ace and  the  great  bell  tower  were  always  thronged, 
and  almost  daily  strings  of  memorialists  sent  their 
petitions  for  reforms  in  to  the  king.  The  police  and 
soldiery  were  of  no  avail ; for  were  they  not  the  broth- 
ers and  sons  of  the  men  in  white  who  composed  the 
clamorous  multitude?  In  the  meantime  the  real  head 
of  the  movement  quietly  bided  his  time  in  the  seclu- 
sion of  our  mission  compound.  Three  times  a week 
his  editorials  came  forth  from  the  little  American 
press  and  were  eagerly  seized  and  devoured  by  the 
multitude.  At  last  the  court  became  weary  of  the 


KING  OF  KOREA. 

(23) 


24 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


unequal  contest,  and  a full  and  free  pardon  for  all 
past  offenses  was  sent  to  Mr.  Yun  with  a request  that 
he  would  at  once  repair  to  the  palace. 

Who  shall  reveal  the  secrets  of  that  meeting  when 
‘the  little  foreign  king,”  as  he  had  been  sneeringly 
dubbed,  stood  face  to  face  with  his  old  enemies?  It 
is  enough  to  say  that  after  a long  consultation  Mr. 
Yun  consented  to  see  what  he  could  do  to  disband 
the  multitude  that  for  more  than  four  months  had  kept 
the  country  in  a turmoil.  He  left  the  palace  on  his 
bicycle,  followed  by  one  crowd,  and  soon  met  by  an- 
other. They  seized  him  with  mad  shouts,  bore 
him  on  their  hands  to  the  center  of  the  square  in 
front  of  the  great  bell  tower,  and  stood  him  on  a 
pile  of  boxes  they  had  heaped  together  for  a rostrum. 
An  hour  later  the  writer  strolled  down  to  the  square 
and  found  Mr.  Yun  still  speaking,  though  his  voice 
vas  reduced  to  a hoarse  whisper.  He  seemed,  how- 
ever, to  make  his  audience  understand  by  the  aid  of 
his  flashing  eyes  and  eloquent  gestures. 

The  result  of  his  address  was  a compromise  that 
led  to  a face-to-face  audience  with  the  king.  Three 
days  later  a thing  hitherto  unknown  occurred.  The 
throne  chair  was  arranged  under  an  open  canopy  in 
the  wide  space  in  front  of  the  palace,  and  the  king 
sat  in  the  presence  of  his  people.  The  diplomatic 
bodv  and  all  foreigners  in  the  city  had  been  invited  to 
be  present.  A line  of  guards  kept  the  mighty  mass  of 
people  about  fifty  yards  away,  and  Mr.  Yun  and  two 
other  representatives  of  the  people  were  allowed  to 
approach  immediately  to  the  throne,  and  there,  pros- 
trate on  their  faces,  they  conversed  with  their  sover- 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


25 


eign.  The  king  was  very  gentle  and  tender  with 
them.  He  took  up  their  grievances  one  by  one,  and 
for  the  most  part  promised  the  relief  they  asked  for. 
Had  all  these  promises  been  fulfilled,  how  different 
would  have  been  the  condition  of  Korea  now ! When 
Mr.  Yun  and  his  companions  returned  and  reported 
the  result  of  the  conference,  a mighty  shout  of  joy 
rang  forth,  and  the  people  quietly  returned  to  their 
homes. 

The  influence  of  Mr.  Yun  had  grown  to  be  sc 
powerful  that  it  was  felt  at  court  that  he  must  be  re- 
moved from  the  capital.  This  object  was  accom- 
plished by  appointing  him  Governor  of  Wonsan,  thus 
removing  him  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  peninsula, 
and  practically  out  of  touch  with  the  element  which 
had  been  his  strong  support  in  the  efforts  to  inaugu- 
rate governmental  reforms.  After  a year  or  two  he 
was  transferred  to  a similar  position  at  Chi-nan-po, 
in  the  north,  and  then  back  again  to  Wonsan,  where 
he  remained  until  the  troubles  of  the  Russo-Japanese 
war  made  his  services  too  valuable  to  be  dispensed 
with  at  court,  and  he  was  recalled  to  the  capital. 

His  wife  accompanied  him  to  the  provinces,  and 
contributed  largely  to  the  popularity  of  his  administra- 
tion. The  last  time  the  writer  saw  her  was  in  1901, 
on  the  road  from  Seoul  to  Wonsan.  She  was  trav- 
eling with  her  husband  and  a large  retinue  of  at- 
tendants, and  was  already  five  days  out  from  Seoul. 
As  we  met.  the  chair  in  which  she  was  being  carried 
was  set  down  by  the  wayside,  and  after  a few  words 
of  salutation  she  threw  up  her  hands  and  exclaimed  : 
“O.  T am  so  tired  ; talk  to  me  in  my  mother  tongue, 


(26) 


REV.  C.  F.  REID,  D.D., 

Founder  of  the  Korean  Mission, 


THE  TOUCH  OF  CHRIST. 


27 


and  rest  me."  And  so  we  sat  for  an  hour  or  more 
and  talked  in  the  old  colloquial  of  Shanghai,  so  dear 
to  us  both ; talked  of  the  loved  ones  who  had  crossed 
the  river,  or  the  experiences  passed,  and  hopes  of  the 
future,  until  the  sparkle  came  back  into  the  tired 
eyes  and  the  old  steady  ring  to  the  voice. 

Her  death,  at  Seoul,  Korea,  a few  weeks  ago,  marks 
the  passing  of  a life  as  full  of  those  elements  that 
make  up  a well-rounded  Christian  character  as  any 
this  writer  has  known. 

After  seeing  and  hearing  Lilavati  Singh  at  the 
Ecumenical  Missionary  Conference  in  New  York 
City,  Ex-President  Benjamin  Harrison  said:  “If  I 
had  given  a million  dollars  to  foreign  missions,  I 
should  count  it  wisely  invested  had  it  led  only  to  the 
conversion  of  that  one  woman.” 

In  like  manner  may  not  those  to  whom  in  the  good 
providence  of  God  it  has  fallen  to  foster  and  develop 
a woman  like  Mrs.  T.  H.  Yun  feel  amply  compen- 
sated for  the  toil  and  expense  of  a work  that  bears 
such  fruit  ? She  is  only  one  of  many,  made  prominent, 
it  is  true,  bv  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  her  life, 
but  still  a fitting  illustration  of  the  power  there  is  in 
the  touch  of  Christ  to  transform  and  ennoble  the 
womanhood  of  heathen  lands. 

Oakland,  Cal.,  June,  1905. 


